Nature of the Beast

"I'm afraid you'd know if I was stealing his best gal... with you being it and all." Levi mused lightly, a palpable honesty in the tone of the soft chuckle that followed. Levi wasn't lying... it was true that they were not on good terms but you don't just forget everything about the person you once called your best friend. In those early days, when there had been so many more of them around, Charlie had spoken about Odessa with the same spark in his eye when he did...

"Couldn't you have asked me a question that required a little less introspection? I'd vastly prefer to tell you about how I lost my virginity mid picnic on a football field." Levi laughed once more, shifting so that he might sit up a little straighter as he went into the hard stuff. "We were like brothers before... inseparable on and off the field. Heh. Selina even admitted later on that at different points she had fallen for the both of us... but as you definitely know not everything works out the way you'd like."

The last part was especially true and rung in his head moments after it rolled off his tongue.

"After we became what we were, well... we had very different views about how to move forward." Levi continued, doing his best to hide the dejection in his voice. It was true that Charlie hated him now and in many ways the feeling had become mutual over the years, but that made it no easier to talk about. "I betrayed his trust. I tried to reach out to someone I shouldn't have because I thought it'd be best for him."

"He disagreed heavily and you see... our mutations... they affect impulse control. It's hard to be reasonable when you're in that state and we ended up fighting right down back in Selina's tunnel." He glanced back at the closed door where the blonde was no doubt still in the middle of gorging his money away. "If it wasn't for her intervening I'm afraid we would have killed each other."

"After that it just wasn't the same between us and I doubt it ever will be." Levi shrugged, worn now that he had to relive such heavy memories in order to retell them. He looked down at her, his lips forming a solemn smile.

"Any chances you slept through and didn't hear all of that just now? Or am I screwed?"

"I'm not exactly a cheap kind of man." Levi had said with a gesture to the lavish guest room they were lying in. It seemed Odessa was just as fiery as her hair and that part intrigued him, but out of self control he refrained from leaning in to kiss those upturned lips of hers. Instead, Levi muttered that what she told him was duly noted and he was content to just let her rest.

He turned on the tv to the local news but muted it, reading the lips of the various reporters as Odessa slept beside him.

A few hours later, the doctor found himself sneaking quietly out of the bed to grab a bite from the dining table. He was not surprised to see the balcony door left wide open, as it was a clear enough indication that Selina went off and disappeared. It was unfortunate that his closest friends share the same troubling habit.

He ate a handful of french fries and sauntered over to his personal bedroom where he grabbed a change of clothes. He was mindful enough to bring something for Odessa, a pair of sweatpants and a big white shirt, if she wanted to change into something more comfortable later on.

He returned, and placed them neatly folded on an end table before going into the en suite to take a shower. Levi just stepped out off the bathroom--yet to have put on a proper shirt--when he realized that Odessa had woken and was clearly in the process of trying to steady herself.

"Is everything alright? Is there pain?" Levi asked with great concern, slipping on the last of his clothes as he rushed to her side. "What are you feeling right now?

"And here I was hoping that our repartee up until this point was enough that you'd end up dreaming about me." Levi leaned back and away from her, a sly smile creeping up on his lips but he eventually shook it off. He ran a hand through his hair purely out of habit before picking up the change of clothes he brought. "Glad to hear you like how I smell because here."

"Use these if you want to change. They're mine and so they'll be a tad loose but it'll help you feel a bit more comfortable if you want." Levi offered before placing them down next to her. He glanced at her momentarily, his eyes scanning Odessa in those quiet few seconds. He was an observant man with an eye of detail only further enhanced by his mutation. All of that meant very little escaped Lev and with a warm smile he shook his head.

"Odessa... we can hear your heartbeat you know. I mean their audible even they're not trying to break out of your chest, like right now." He confessed with a tone between sheepish and amused. His face softened though as he seemed to want to handle the situation a bit more seriously. With one hand he motioned towards the door. "You wanna talk about it over some food? We can go warm up some of what Selina left us or if you'd like I can cook new."

Levi hadn't expected her to change in front of him but he certainly wasn't complaining. His eye started on her bare feet and traveled only upwards, stopping only when they met her gaze. She mentioned something about her partner and Levi nodded blankly. He stepped back and bit the bottom of his lip lightly.

"You should probably eat, you mean." He corrected slyly, a certain mischevious glint in his eyes despite the fact he was putting more and more distance between them. He took another step back, chuckling to himself before turning for the door completely. "I would say lie to your partner but it'd have to be helluva good one to account for the day and a half you've been missing."

"So just... you know, try to keep things as vague as possible."

With that he left the room, closing the door behind before scanning his mess of a kitchen-dining room. He was no masterchef but Levi was the adaptable sort...and the sort to keep boxes of macaroni on stand by in case of emergency. Figuring the red head would prefer some junky comfort food over some five course meal anyways, that's what he set off to make.

Nearly thirty minutes had passed by the time Levi was done cooking. He placed a considerable amount of pasta two bowls and walked back over to the guestroom hoping that she managed to get everything sorted out. In truth Levi had first saw Odessa on the TV screen, where the man he assumed to her partner declared her missing. When he realized she had last been seen entering Selina's domain...well he worried that the blonde had done something rash.

Then Selina appeared at his door bloodied and beaten but with quite the story to tell. Kicking the door open he entered, knowing that so far Odessa was just as interesting as both his veterans painted her to be.

"Most of the stuff that Selina ordered was hopeless so I just went ahead and made some quick macaroni and cheese." Levi mused lightly as he moved over to the side of the bed. He placed their bowls down, steam rising from both servings, and looked at her with his soft, brown eyes. "Is everything alright or should I expect the bounty hunters to kick my door down any minute?"

"Well I'm glad to know I'm competing with the likes of them." Levi nodded with a grin. He sat a little more towards the end of the bed with his bowl of macaroni in one hand and a fork in the other. A bit of a slow eater, he was still working on his bowl long after she had set hers down, though he was glad to see his cooking was received well.

He couldn't help but listen to her heart the moment he had entered the room. It was a light thump, something only discernible if the three of them took the time to single it out. Levi used it well to his advantage in the past, swinging conversations the way he wanted them to go. But there was something easy about speaking with Odessa... something maybe even natural.

"I have to be honest, Odessa. When I asked Selina to bring you here I wasn't sure what to expect." Levi confessed, a little sudden but earnest all the same. His eyes trailed down to her hands and he laughed softly before continuing in a tone he had yet to use with her. "We knew who your father was, of course--hard to forget someone as impactful as he was but you? Well.."

"He kept you a secret you know, for a long time. Didn't tell me or Selina anything about his promise to watch over you hell we didn't even know you existed. We always wondered where he'd just disappear for days on end while the rest of us were barely managing to survive. There was... a lot of fallout when things came to light."

"So many of us were struggling to adapt to the mutations... and we all had agreed at first as a group to not contact anybody from our old lives so we'd keep them safe. A lot took his dedication to you as a sign that he betrayed that pact, allowed himself a connection that everyone else had willingly deprived themselves from. Selina and I... we took it the hardest. She loved him and my mind was in such a dark place and he knew all that. I hate to admit it now but back then we relied on Charlie to get us through it all."

For the longest time Levi let what he was saying now go unspoken. He wasn't sure what changed, but it was apparent that something had shifted in him because now it seemed difficult to not confess such things.

"The thirteen of us ended up splitting up after all that, they wanted to live normal lives again... like Charlie had through you. I know a lot of them ended up returning to their families and were happy for awhile, but that made them easy to find, easy to capture. I...sorry. I know I'm not helping any of this become less overwhelming. Its just... " Levi trailed off, his brow furrowed as his eyes raised to meet hers once again.

"You deserve to know that I brought you here so I could understand what made all that worth it for him." It felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Just as she had waited all these years to see her guardian angel, Levi had waited to tell how he truly felt and even after everything that had been said... the doctor felt grateful most of all to have gotten all of it off of his chest. "That's my piece. You don't have to say anything or do anything about it, it's just that--"

The tired smile that had taken up Levi's face as he talked suddenly shifted. He stood up suddenly, the sound of his footsteps coming down the hall ever so apparent to the doctor's ear. Levi glanced at the doorway and back at her. "I believe Charlie is about to arrive. I'd suggest not getting involved if...something breaks out."

"That's sweet to hear if not a little... ambitious." Levi said with a solemn smile. He glanced back at the door. He could hear the pounding footsteps coming closer with each second. He focused in on it, blurring out the rest of the noises caught by his heightened hearing. It had been awhile since he saw Charlie, much less spoken to him. If anything these next few moments would prove to be interesting.

"There was no way you could have known. It's hardly your fault." The doctor began to walk away, his back turned to her while he assured there was nothing to apologize for. As he passed through the doorway he looked back at her however, his lips now curved into a familiar smirk. "Besides, I think I'm starting to see why he did it."

The knock came strong and steady, enough to shake the doors to the hotel suite. Levi was quick to give it his full attention and closed the remaining distance with haste, leaving Odessa to watch from the inside of the guest room. The doctor allowed himself one quiet breath to prepare himself and opened the door.

The swing came wide and quick--had Levi not expected it he would've been sent straight to the floor. But his sidestep was quick and seemingly quite practiced, the smaller man's face drawing into a glare as he recovered his footing. Charlie stood across from him, clearly aged since the last time they spoke, and in his eyes was a familiar anger.

"You could've said hello first, old friend." Levi shot sharply, Charlie growling in response before lowering his fists. The doctor however, remained on his toes.

"Where is she?" The blonde asked gruffly, his brows furrowed into an intense glare. Levi returned the expression and answered with one word alone--inside. The doctor knew how to press Charlie's buttons, after all there was a time when they trusted each other with their life, but he was surprised to see the control the other man was now displaying. Perhaps Charlie was putting on a show--afraid to scare Odessa off now that he couldn't hide in the shadows.

"I'm not here for more of your one-liners Levi. I'm here to make sure you don't do what you--"

"Did last time? As in try to tell your wife the truth?" He interrupted coldly, Charlie's hard expression fading into a moment of shock.

"Does Odessa even know about Nerissa or did you intend to do what you did to me and Selina and keep your love for her a secret?"

It was without a doubt that what Levi had done had been enough. The shock melted into complete anger and utter disdain, Charlie closed the distance rapidly, faster than the doctor had expected, and crashed into him with enough strength to stop a car. The two of them met the marble with a loud thud and cracks erupted from where they landed. It soon devolved into complete chaos, Levi knocking Charlie's mouth bloody and getting a nearly broken nose in return.

It seemed endless, both men creatures of immense durability and strength.

Levi had a way with words. Charlie had seen him use it to charm women and men alike all through the years he called the doctor his closest friend. But a man with such a tongue is capable of using it both ways, he could be as venomous as he was sweet, as hurtful as he was considerate. He was a manipulator at best... and Charlie had let himself get caught in his plan once again.

He had felt the fury burning up in him, hell it had been burning since he returned to an empty hotel room, but Levi's words had been the gasoline to his flame and it burned the both of them as they fought.

But then he heard her voice and it stopped him--reminded him why he even came to this godforsaken hotel anyways. He immediately turned away from the doctor who he had pinned down against the floor and with a great concern in his eyes called out her name. Charlie was relieved at first, to see her well, but then he realized along with seeing everything that had just happened... she likely heard everything that just happened.

Charlie stood up, taking almost all his willpower to not just rush to her side when she buckled. He knew that the last thing she'd probably want from him was...well, him. He wiped his mouth with his shirt, having stained his plain white top with both his and Levi's blood now. He heard the doctor shuffle to his feet but he didn't care.

His main focus was Odessa.

"Odessa...I'm..." Charlie began, pausing to cough up a little blood onto the sleeve of his jacket. "I'm so sorry if you'd just allow me to explain my side of things--"

"There isn't much to explain, Charlie. She heard full and well that you betrayed her trust like you did ours." Levi growled, applying pressure to his wounded nose. It was enough to bring the blonde to look back at him, but Charlie soon turned back forward. He swallowed, a bitter taste in his mouth and dared to move a little closer.

"She doesn't need this right now, Levi. Any of this." Charlie had retorted tiredly before turning to face her. He extended a reluctant hand towards Odessa, unsure if she could even stand to look at him anymore. "I need to get you out of here, Dessy. Let's just leave and we can... we can talk about what needs to be talked about."

The doctor stepped forward and matched Charlie's case. "And who's to say he won't lie to you again? The only reason I omitted the important details was because you asked me. Trust me--he isn't the angel you thought him out to be."

Both men looked at each other before back at Odessa, their eyes waiting for an answer.

From guardian angel to angry pitbull... it was decidedly not Charlie's night. As Odessa turned to leave he looked down to the floor in hopes of hiding just how dejected everything that had happened made him felt. He was a man of many regrets and there was no doubt in his mind that tonight would become one more for the books. He didn't say or even look at Levi after his woman left.

He had made it a point to give Odessa enough time to put distance between her and this hotel before he left. Charlie respected her wish to be left alone and wanted to give her the space she sought out. He rode back to the highway motel on his motorcycle, his wounds from the brawl with Levi healing up along the way. Charlie had successfully made it through the parking lot, up the stairs and into the room by the time he realized he couldn't. He just...couldn't.

Sitting on the edge of a bed that still smelled so strongly of her, he broke the promise he made to himself to steer clear like she asked. Charlie spent that night on the rooftop of a building near her apartment. He couldn't see her or hear her but he would be close enough if something were to happen and that was the best he could do for her.

That was how he conducted himself in the week that followed, never near but never far. He stayed hidden in the crowds as she walked through the city and rested atop at his new found spot when she came home. Whenever Odessa was with her partner however, Charlie relented on his guardian duties. He knew that Seth, while being just a normal man, was looking out for Odessa just as much as he and all of his mutated self had.

It would've been funny had things not been so depressing... for Charlie. In those first few hours after Odessa learned who he was, the ex seal had wished for nothing else but to return to the shadows as an unseen observer, as a proper guardian angel. Now that he returned to such a status however, he realized it was not nearly as fulfilling as he remembered it to be. Charlie wanted to be by her side, to let her be certain that he was there for her... but at the same time he couldn't bring himself to reach out to her once more.

In the matter of two days had managed to mess things up between them so bad... he couldn't help but feel any more time they spent directly with each other would only lead to complete disaster.

But two weeks after the incident at Levi's, Charlie found himself with little choice.

Were it not for the sun's position early in the sky, it would've been hard to tell it was morning in NYC with the way the crowds flooded the sidewalks. Charlie stood still in the waves of people, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans and his nose searching for that wintergreen scent. He was standing dab smack in the middle of Odessa's route to the precinct and despite how he felt about direct contact... he absolutely needed to talk to her--to warn her.

"Hey..." Charlie repeated, pausing to allow himself a quiet moment to take in her appearance from so close. The past two weeks might as well have been months with the way it made him feel to distance himself. For the past decade watching over her had been, admittedly, his entire existence. But now it felt wrong to be any farther than he was now.

He could never bring himself to admit that, however--to Odessa or himself.

"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't necessary, you know. You deserve your space." He began, the waves of people on their way to wherever they were going splitting in half when it came to the both of them. He held a cigarette loosely between his lips--a necessity for being this deep into the city with a nose like his. "But something has come up, and... well..."

Charlie looked off to his left and exhaled, a small funnel of smoke rising into the sky. "Your father contacted the three of us, er...Selina, Levi and I. It was short, generally untraceable but the message contained directions. We don't know if it leads to him, hell we don't even known where it leads period. But in the off chance it is where he's been hiding out all this time... you deserve to be there with us."

"All three of us agreed." Charlie glanced behind his shoulder, nodding in two familiar figures over to his side. Selina and Levi appeared from within the sea of people, the former too busy with the messy lemon popsicle in her mouth to greet Odessa properly. The good doctor offered a nod and hoped the look in his moony brown eyes was enough to convey his regret.

"You don't have to make a decision now... after all, you got work and we have no idea how long or how far we'll be going." The rugged blonde continued, turning away to puff another smoke. He cleared his throat. "Think it over. We'll be waiting back at Selina's hovel until seven but after that we gotta go."

"Hmph. Don't worry about these two. I've been keeping them in line for decades, believe it or not. Though i probably should have expected Charlie would come tearing through the city to find you." Selina piped in suddenly, twirling her icy treat carelessly despite a tinge of sadness in her tone. "I'll make sure what happened at the hotel with these two dogs won't happen again."

With that, Selina turned and was the first to leave. It seemed the spotlight then moved to Levi who had been content just standing with silence. He looked back up at Odessa and offered her the same tired smile he had two weeks ago. "I'm not a man beneath admitting when I'm at fault, even if only partially. I'm sorry Odessa that you had to see what you saw and honestly? I have more to say but..."

He trailed off and shot a subtle glance towards Charlie. "...It'll have to wait until later."

Another smile, another nod and Levi left just as suddenly as he and Selina had appeared. A moment of silence fell over the two that were left but Charlie broke it with the shake of his head.

"They talk like that now but I know them... it's going to be rusty being together again. I'd understand if you prefer to not come." He chuckled softly, though his expression was more grim than amused. "We've...I've given you plenty enough headaches already, I'm sure."

He turned and began to walk away, his form slowly being consumed by the sea of people. He raised a hand and waved but didn't turn back. "I'll see you when I see you."